Shoulder-purse



M. K. GAY

SHOULDER PURSE.

APPLICATION FILED. JUNE 16, 1920,

Patented Dec. 7, 1920? Li I UNITED stares BATENT tries.

MYRA KATHARINE GAY, QF WINCHESTER, KENTUCKY.

SHOULDER-PURSE.

Application filed June 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MYRA K. GAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Win chester, in the county of Clark and State of Kentuckyhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Purses;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved shoulder purse or bag adapted to beworn over the shoulder, with the opening in the bag close up under andadapted to fit beneath the arm of the wearer so that the arm willautomatically protect the bag from being opened and yet ready access maybe had to the same when desired by the wearer.

My invention will be more fully understood after reference to theaccompaying drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similarreference symbols throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1represents in dotted lines a young woman with one of my improved bagssuspended from the shoulder, the bag and support therefor being shown indotted lines; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the bag with its suspending strap orribbon, parts being shown as broken away.

The body A of the bag or purse is made of any suitable flexiblematerial, such as wire mesh, cloth, textile fabric, leather, skins, orthe like, and is provided with a suitable reinforcing frame for theupper end thereof, comprising the front and back jaws B and B, hingedtogether, as at b, and both curved downward to substantially follow thecurve of the armpit; the two jaws B and B being automatically fastenedtogether by any suitable clasp, such as the two spring clips C.

The rear jaw B is provided with eyes I) to which the links D areconnected. These links are attached, respectively, to the end 6 of thestrap or ribbon E, and to the end c of the strap or ribbon E, whichcarries the buckle F with its tongue adapted to en gage in one of theadjusting holes e in the member E. A suitable keeper 6 may be providedfor the free end of the member E.

While I have shown the parts E and E as straps, they may be obviouslymade of flexible bands of any suitable material, such Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1920.

1820. Serial No. 389,518.

as rubber, silk, or even link metal; the idea being to provide asuitable and attractive attachment for adjustably suspending the bagfrom the shoulder of the wearer.

lt will be noted that if desired the jaws B and B may be drawn close upunder the armpit of the wearer, or may be lowered a reasonable distancetherefrom, depending upon the style of dress worn by the person carryingthe bag; and that it will be a very simple matter to swing the bag fromunder the arm of the wearer when it is desired to open same and let itreturn to the guarded position when closed.

While the bag and suspender may be sufficiently attractive to be wornboth as an ornament and as an object of utility outside of the dress, asshown in Fig. 1, it will be obvious that when the wearer puts on a coatthe bag will be still further protected and will be quite accessible tothe wearer, but will be effectually protected against pickpocketswhenever attached to the person of the wearer in the manner shown.

The parts of the frame or jaws of the bag and its suspending meansshould be so constructed as not to catch or tear the clothing of thewearer, but all the exposed parts should be well rounded which wouldalso be consistent with the neat workmanship and attractive appearancedesired for an appliance of this kind.

The device may be used either on a dress without any coat, or eitherover or under the coat. In order to use it it will be desir able toadjust the straps E and E so that they may comfortably fit the arm andthen slip it over the arm of the wearer with the curved jaws up underthe armpit. A. coat or acket may be put on after the straps are slippedover the shoulder, or the bag may be put in place after the coat is on,as already described.

While l have shown the device in a simple form, and in that preferred byme, it will be obvious that various modifications might be made in theconstruction and arrangement of parts which could be used withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention; and I do not mean to limitthe invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is 1. A bag composed of flexiblematerial and provided with two metal jaws hinged together to form aframe for the open end of the bag, the upper and central portions of thejaws being concave to fit under the arm of the wearer, releasablefastening means for holding said jaws together when desired, incombination with a flexible adjustable suspender attached to theopposite upper corners of the bag and adapted to pass over the shoulderof the wearer.

2. A bag composed of flexible material and provided with two metal jawshinged together to form a frame for the open end of the bag, the upperand central portions of the jaws being concave to fit under the arm ofthe wearer, releasable tlastening means for holding said jaws togetherwhen desired, the rear jaw being provided with eyes at its upper andouter edges, links hinged to said eyes, and a flexible band made of twomembers secured respectively to said links and adjustably connectedtogether, and adapted to go over the shoulder of the wearer,substantially as described.

MYRA KATHARINE GAY.

